Machine for folding napkins



May 29, 1928.

VA. GROFF MACHINE llOR FOLDING NAPKINS Filed March May 29, 1928.

A. GROFF MACHINE FOR FOLDING NAPKINS 6 Shee Filed March 1926 May 29, 1928.

A. GROFF MACHINE FOR FOLDING NAPKINS Filed March 5, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 May 29, 1928.

A. GROFF MACHINE FOR FOLDING NAPKINS e h s 6 6 2 9 5.. m mw L\ M d May 29, 1928.

A. GROFF4 MACHINE FOR FOLDING NAPKINS 1 e sheets-sheet 5I Filed March 5, 1926 May 29, 1928. 1,671,716

y A. GRol-'F MACHINE FOR FOLDING NAPKINS Filed March 5, 192e 6 sheets-sheet e Zndenor Patented May 29, 192s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

AARON GROFF, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, .ASSIGNOR TO GROFF `PAPER COMPANY, 0F

. ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

MACHINE FOR `FOLDING- .NAPKINS VApplication filed March 5, 1926. SerialNo. 92,450.

rlhis invention relates to a folding apparatus and method Vhile the invention is applicable to different uses, it particularly is designed for folding paper napkins. Paper napkins are now used inimmense numbers in eating places and it is desirable to have an apparatus which will'quickly and inexpensively fold the same.` Such napkins are now commonly folded first `into a four ply quarter foldand arethen folded along lines radial with one corner of the quarter folded napkin so tof produce a double pointed fold often referred to as a V-shaped fold.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for rapidly and efficiently folding napkins into said Vshaped fold.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an entirely novel and destinct type offolding machine for successively folding a paper napkin into the desired shape.

1t is still. another object of the invention to provide a machine for folding a continnous strip of material into two-ply form, severing said folded strip to form the sepa.- rate napkins," then folding said napkins successively into four-ply quarter folds, and then by -revoluble means folding over tri# angular portions at the corners thereof to give said V-shaped form.

.lt vis a further object of the invention. to provide such an ap aratus comprising a roller about which tie napkins are carried, together' with means for engaging said napkins along an intermediate line and trans ferring the same to another roller and folding thenapkins.

It isalso an object of the invention to provide a folding apparatus comprising a roller having means engaging one end of a napkin to carry the same thereabout, together With another roller having means for pinching a bight in. said napkin along an intermediate line,.gripping said bight and carrying the .napkin about said second roller to fold the same. I

It still another object of the invention to provide a folding machine comprising a cylindrical roller having means engaging the napkin to carry the same thereabout, to-

gether with a conical roller having its surface running adjacent the surface of said cylindrical roller and having means for gripping a napkin on said cylindrical roller and moving the same therefrom and folding the same. Y i

It is also an object of the invention to provide such an apparatus as set forth in the preceding paragraph, together with one or more additional conical rollers adapted to successively grip the napkin and carry the 1siame about their surfaces to fold the nap Itis also an object of the invention to provide a folding machine comprising a cylindrical roller about which the napkin is carried, oneor more conical rollers by which the napkin is gripped and carried, together with a packing and folding means adapted to receive the folded napkins, place the same in a stack, and fold over the ends thereof.'

y `It is furthermore an object of the inventionto provide a novel method of folding the napkins.

`These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description lnade in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Vwhich like reference characters refer to the same K parts throughout the different views, and in Which;

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation ofthe apparatus; Y

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows, certain parts being broken away and others shown in horizontal section; i

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic `view showin the ends of the folding rollers and means caried thereby;

Fig. 4 is a partial view of a portion of the folding rollers;

Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 4 showing a later operation;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig 4, showing a still later operation, Figs. 4 to 6 being shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is an end view of certain of the rol- 1ers, illustrating their operation;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a later operation;

Fig. 9 is a partial view similar to Fig. 7 and shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 10 is an end view of a pair of rollers, showing a later folding operation than that of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a partial end view similar to Fiv. 7 and shown on an enlarged scale;

ig. 12is an end view of some of the fold# ing rollers, showing a later operation than that shown in F ig.10;

Fig. 13 is a view partially in elevation and partially in vertical section, showing the stacking device for the napkins;

Fig. 14 is a view in vertical section of the stacking apparatus, showing the parts in a different position;

Figs. 15 to 18 are plan views of the stacking and folding means, showing the parts in different positions;

Fig. 19 is a vertical section taken on line 19-19 of Fig. 13, as indicated by the arrows; j

Fig. 2O is a perspective view of a napkin folded into the four-ply quarter fold with means indicating subsequent folds;

Fig. 21 is al view in elevation of the nap kin as folded by the second conical roller;

Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing a subsequent. stage of the folded napkin, and

Fig. 23 is a view in elevation showing the completely folded napkin.

Referring to the drawings, a folding apparatus is shown comprising a machine having a frame 20 of rect-angular forni in plan, said frame having upstanding columns 20 at one side in which are journaled the trunnions of the roller 21 over which a sheet` S of flexible material such as paper, is adapted toV run. The roller 21 has adjacent thereto a triangular plate or form 22 over which the sheet S passes and a pair of rollers 23 are disposed some distance beneath the roller 2l., which rollers 23 run in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l and have their surfaces substantially in contact along the line disposed substantially centrally of the sheet S. The rollers 23 have gears 24 secured thereto lmeshing with each other by means` of which said rollers are driven. The sheet S passes from the form or plate 22 between the rollers 23 and is thus folded alon'g a central line to make a two-ply thickness. This means for so folding a. sheet along the central line and passing the same between two rollers is old and well known as disclosed in the patent to Goss. 936,710 granted October 12, 1909. One of the gears 24 meshes with and is driven by a gear 25 which in turn meshes with and is adapted to be driven by a larger gear 2G.

A roller 27 is carried on a shaft 28 journaled in bearings 29 onv frame 2() and a smaller roller 3() has trunnions 31 journalcd in brackets 32 secured to the top of bcarin 29, the roller 30 being disposed above and at one side of the center of roller 27. A large cylindrical roller 33 is carried on a shaft 34 journaled in bearings 35 on frame 20, shafts 34 and 28 having their centers substantially in the saine horizontal plane and rollers 33 and 27 being substantially tangent.

A conical roller 36 is rovided having its axis extending horizonta ly in substantially the same plane as the axis of shafts 28 and 34, which roller is carried on a shaft 37 journaled in a bearing 38 secured to frame 20. The roller 36 is substantially tangent to the roller 33. Another conical roller 39 is provided, carried on a shaft 40 journaled in the bearing 41 bolted to frame 20. Roller 39 has its axis in the horizontal plane of shaft 37 and said roller is substantially tangent to roller 3G. Another conical roller 42 is provided carried on a shaft 43 journaled-in a bearing 44 on frame 20, shaft 43 having its axis horizontal and in the same plane as shafts 37 and 40 and roller 42, being substantially tangent to roller 39. The conical rollers 36, 39 and 42 have their pointed ends meeting substantially in one point located at one edve of roller 33 as shown in Fig. 2.

The follded sheet S of material :passes downwardly beneath roller 30 and is engaged by and carried between rollers '27 and 33. Roller 27 has a recess 27*1L formed longitudinally of one side and a knife 45 projects centrally and radially of Said recess, having a sharpened line saw edge at its outer side, which edge extends parallel to the side of roller 27. At each side of recess 27a a plate or bar 46 is disposed, extending outwardly 'past the side of the roller 27, parallel to knife blade/45, said plates 46 preferably having rounded outer edV es parallel to the side of the roller 27. Roller 33 has recesses 33 extending longitudinally thereof at opposite sides thereof, having side surfaces 33d, said recesses having a shallower portion 33" having side surfaces 33il through which project outwardly from roller 33 the plates or bars 47 preferably having rounded outer edges parallel to the side of roller 33. Shafts 48 are carried in and journaled in roller 33 respectively in the rear of recesses 33, lwhich shafts each carry arms 49, 51 respectively at each end thereof between which arm extends a bar or blade 50 projecting radially outwardly from said arm and outwardly in recess 33 at one side of the plate 47, the outer edge of the plate or bur 50 extending parallel to the side of roller 33. Said arms 51 also each have a portion 51a the outer end of which engaged by a spring 52 secured to and engaging at its other end with a lug 53 projecting in one end of roller 33. The portions 51* each carry a camv roller 54 journaled on a pin 55 which cam roller projects away from roller 33 at one end thereof and is held by a sprin 52 against a stationary cam 5G secured y screws 57 to one of the hearings 35. The roller 33 also has at opposite sides and disposed 90 degrees from recesses 33, similiar cylindrical recesses 33 and plates or bars 58 are carried bysaid roller and project outwardly lradially in said receses 33 preferablyhavingtheir outer edges rounded and" extending parallel to the side of roller 33.

The conical roller 36 (see Figs. 3 and 7 to 1l) has a recess 36 formed therein adja cent its rear end and extending a short distance longitudinally thereof at one side of which is disposed a plate or bar 59 projecting outwardly radially of said roller some distance beyond its periphery and preferably having an outer rounded edge extending parallel to the surface of said roller. Shaft 60 is carried and journaled in the rear end of said roller and has secured thereto an arm` 61. The shaft 6() has connected thereto by universal joint shaft `62 extending at an angle thereto, which latter shaft extends through a gear 76 and gear 63 which are rigid relatively to roller 36 and has secured to its outer end an arm 64. A spring 65 has one end engaging the arm 64 adjacent `its outer end and has its other end secured to and engaging a member 66 carried by gearl 63. The arm 64 at its outer end has a cam roller 67 journaled on a pin 68 carried in said arm, which cam roller 67 is thus held by spring 65 against a cylindri- `cal cain 69 having a cylindrical sleeve portion`69L fitted in the end of bearing 38 and held therein by the set screw 70. The roller 36 has a shallow recess 36" at one side opposite the recess 36a and has another recess 36C extending longitudinally thereof throughout the greater part of its length and along an element thereof, `which recess has a plate or bar 7l carried'in roller 36 projecting outwardly therein a short distance beyond the periphery of roller 36. The plate 71 is 1ocated substantially 60 degrees froln the center of recess 36u.

The conical roller 39 has a recess 39n in'its surface extending parallel to an element therein and throughout the greater part of the length of said roller and a plate 72 is disposed at one: side of said recess and projects radially slightlybeyond the surface of roller 89 which preferably has a rounded outer edge extending parallel to the surface of said roller. Roller 39 has a shaft 73 journaled therein to which is secured a platelike arm 7 4, shaft 73 having connected thereto by universal joint a shaft 75 journaled in a gear 77 which meshes with gear 76 and is rigid in relation to roller 39. Shaft 75 `has secured to its outer end an arm 78 against the outer end of which bears one end of spring 79 having its other end secured to and engaging a member 80 carried in roller 39. The arm 78 has a cam roller 78 journaled on a pin 781 in its outer end which roller is held by spring 79 in engagement with a cylindrical cam 81 similar to the cam 69 and Similarly held in bearing '41 by set screw 82.

Theroller 39 also has a shallow Vrecess 39b extending longitudinally of its surface and parallel to an element thereof, through which projects a plate or bar 83 having a rigid outer edge extendin parallel to the surface of the roller 39. ar 83 is disposed about 60 degrees from the bar 72.

The conical roller 42 also has a recess 42EL extending longitudinally of it-s surface throughout a considerable extent thereof .at one side of which is disposed a plate or bar 84 projecting radially outward slightly past the periphery "of said roller. A shaft 85 is journaled in roller 42 and has secured thereto aplate-like arm 86 extending parallel to plate 84. Shaft 85 has secured thereto by universal joint a shaft 87 journaled in a gear 88 meshing with gear 77 and revolving rigid with roller 42. The shaft 87 has an arm 89 secured to its outer end carrying a pin on which is journaled acam roller 99, which cam roller is held against a stationary cylindrical cam 91 similar to thev cam 69 and held in the bearing 43 in a similar Inanner by the set screw 92. A spring 93 carried in roller 42 bears at one end against arm 89 and at its other end against a member 94 in the roller 42, thus holding arm 89 and roller toward can] 91.. j

The rollers and gears described will be driven through shaft 28 which will have power applied thereto by any suitable means such as a pulley or motor (not shown) connected to one end` thereof. Shaft28 has a gear 95 secured thereto which meshes with gear 26. Gear 26 as shown in Fig. 2 comprises a spur gear at its outer side and a bevel gear 26a at its inner side. Bevel gear 26 meshes with gear 63 already referred to, the ratio between said gears being two to one. The gear 76 is rigid on shaft 27 with the gear 63, which gear 76 meshes with gear 77 and gear 77 in turn meshes with gear 88 clearly shown in Fig. 2, gears 76, 77 and 88 being of the same size.` Rollers 36, 39 and 42 are thus driven at the saine speed and at substantially twice the speed of roller 33. The apparatus so far described consitutes the folding means for foldin the napkins into quarter fold and then fol ing over each side along the line radial to one corner oi the quarter fold to bring the napkin into the well known cornucopia shape shown in Fig. 22. The operation of the foldingmechanisin is as follows:

As already stated, the sheet S is folded lengthwise into two-ply thickness `as it passes through the rollers 23. Said sheet then passes downwardly over the roller 30 which is at one side of the point of tangeney of rollers 27 and 33. As the sheet is carried down between rollers 27 and 33, it is engaged by plates 46onroller 27 and by plates 59 and 47 carried on roller 33. The napkin is then crimped or bent about the rnV edge of the knife as shown in Fig. `4. This knife having a very sharp edge, the material is severed as shown in Fig. 5. As the rollers 27 and 33 come to the position shown in Fig. 4, the cani roller 54 rolls up on the high part 56 of cani 56 and arms 5l and 49 are swung so that plate or bar moves away from surit'ace 33 and occupies a. position shown iii Fig. 4. Just after the material is severed as shown iii Fig. 5, roller 54 drops down oit' the portion 56L ot cani 56 and spring 52 swings arms 5l and 49 so that plate 50 moves toward surface ,33W It will he seen troni Fig. 5 that the rear plate 46 together with plate 5t) form or pinch a loop7 small told, or biglit Su: iii the material, as the ends ot these plates overlap. p rollers 27 and continue their rotation in opposite directions, the plates 46 and kiiite 45 move away from plates 47 and 5U and plate 5t) snaps back againstsurface 33, thus gripping the biglit Sw against surface 33 as shown in Fig. 6. The advancing edge ot the sheet of material is thus gripped by the plate 50 throughout the length of the roller 33 and the material is carried around on the surface of said roller. As there are two of the shafts 4S and plates 5t), the material will thus be severed at each halt revolution ot roller 33 as described and each plate 50 will carry the advancing edge ot a piece of severed material which piece forms the napkin. Wlliile the napkins might be ot various dimensions, it has been the common practice to make the saine square so that a piece ot material carried around on roller 33 twice as long as it is wide, due to the Jfact that the material and consequently the napkin, has been itolded lengthwise. 'lhe roller 33 continues to revolve and the plate 58 which is midway between the plates 50 moves in between the plate 59 and the arm or plate 6l on conical roller 36. the plates 59 and 6l are quite short in length. The diameter of the conical roller 36 at its large end is substantially halt` the diameter ot roller 33, or slightly more than halt ot said diameter, and as roller 36 is driven at twice the revolution ot the roller 33, the peripheralspeed. of the rollers adjacent the large end ol roller 36 is substantially the same. The peripheral or surface speed ot roller 36, oi course, decreasz-is toward its smaller end and .it is of course, necessary to have a short length of plates 59 and Gl so that these plates may be disposed wherel the peripheral speed oi both rollers substantially the same. As rollers 33 and 36 revolve and plate 5S approaches plate 59, cani roller 67 has moved up on the high n part 6990i cam 69 and plate or arm 6l has been moved away from plate 59 against the resistance otthe spring so that plate 58 can projectbetween plates 59 and 61 and forni a small fold or bight Sb in the material or napkin. As rollers 33 and 36 continue their rotation i'nfopposte directions as shown by the arrows in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, plate 58 moves away from plates 59 and 61 and roller 67 drops ott' of the high part. 69 of cam 69. Spring 65 then snaps arm or plate 61 towards plate 59 and the small fold or biglit Sb is pinched or gripped between arm 61 and plate 59 as shown in Fig. 8. The niaterial or napkin is thus carried around the roller 36 and as the bight Sbis toriiied along a median line of the napkin, the saine will be folded intoa uarter `fold on roller 36 and said quarter old will be carried around recess 36 with its folded edge as the advancing edge, as shown in Fig. l0. lt will be noted, as shown in Fig. 7, that when cani ioller 67 drops down off of the high part 69;'i of cani 69, to permit arm 6l to grip the bight Si!) of'the napkin, that roller 54 on arm 5l on the roller 33 rides up on the high part 56h of cam 56, thus moving plate 50 away from surface 33d and releasiiig the advancing edge of the napkin, which napkin is designated as S1. The napkin is thus tree to be carried away from ioller 33 by the gripping means on roller 36.

Roller 36, as stated, carries the napkin S1 'thereabout, as shown in Fig. l0 andr plate 7l. on said roller passes in between plates 72 and arm or plate 74 on roller 39 as shown .in Fig. 10. Since the peripheral speed of the rollers 36 and 39 is the same, at all corresponding points on their surfaces, the plates 7l, 72 and arm 74 can extend quite a long distance longitudinallyof said rollers. As plate 7l approaches plate 72, the roller SO has passed on to the high part i'lll ot' cani 8l and arm 7 Shas thus moved arm 74 away from plate 72 so that plate 7l can enter between plates 72 and 74 and plate 72, as it so enters, forms a bight Se in the napkin S1 as shown in Fig.` 10. Just after said bight is formed, plate 71 moves away trom plate 72, von account of the opposite rotation of the rollers 36 and 39, cani roller Soldi-ops oft' o'l the high art 81u' of cam 8l and spring 79 sna s t e arm 74 back againstplate 72, thus-pinching and gripping the bight Se against plate 72. The napkin S is now carried awa from roller 36 by the roller 39. As the nap in isy thus gripped by arm 74 and plate 72, the cani roller 67 rides up on the high part 69a of cam 69 and arm or plate 6l is moved away from plate 59 thus releasing the napkin at the bight or fold Sb so that the napkin is free to be carried about roller 39. This is clearly shown in Fig. 10.

t willy be understood that the napkin Sl disposed on the surface of the ioller 36 at one corner adjacent the small end of said roller and the napkin is engaged by plates 7l and 72 along a line radial with said corner of the napkin such as the line S1i shown in Fig. 20. As plate 71 is disposed IUU substantially 60 degrees from the pla-te 61, the angle between line S12 and the edge Sib of the :napkin S1 is substantiallyBO degrecs or slightly less. The napkin, therei'ore, as it is carried around roller 39 is folded substantially into the shape shown in Fig. 21. '1

The roller 39 nowrevolves in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 10 and the napkin is carried arouiul the surface thereof. .Plate 83 on roller i9 new follows in the rear of plat-e 72 and conies between plates 84 and 85 on the roller as shown in Fig 12. As plate 84 approaches the plate 82 the cam roller 90 has moved up on the high part 91a of cam 91 and arin 85 liasbeen inovedaway from the plate 84. Plate 83 now enters bew tween plates 84 and 85 and forms a small fold or bight Sd in the napkin. As `plates 83 and 84 separate in the continued rotation of rollers39 and 42, cam 90 drops olf the high part 91 of a cam 91 and arni 85`snaps back against plate 84 and grips bight Sd of the napkin and carries the `napkin'around on roller 42. Just as arni 85 grips bight Sd, roller 80 rolls up on the-high part 81a of cam 81, moving arm 74 away from plate 72 and releasing the napkin from roller 39. The napkin is disposed on roller 39 with its corner Sie (Fi s. 20, 21) toward the pointed end of the rol er and plates 84 and 83 extend along an element of the rollers toward the points thereof and the napkin S1 is gripped by plate 84 and arm 85 along the line Sm as shown in Fig. 20. '.lhe napkin is now carried around roller 42 and folded as shown in Fig. 22. It will be noted that the folded over side portions of the quarter fold napkin which are indicated S1c vand S" in Fig. 20, are folded in opposite directions and on opposite sides of the central zone portion Si? at the center of the quarter fold napkin. The napkin has thus been folded into the so called V-shaped form as shown in Fig. 22. The napkin so folded is now carried around on the roller 42. The means for receiving and stacking the napkins and folding over the end portions S1h thereof, will now be described.

Rollei' 42` has journaled therein and extending lengthwise' thereof, a shaft 97, which shaft carries a plate 98 forming a part of the peripheral surface of the roller 42.` Plate 98 swings about shaft 97 and is tapered towards its free end, the `end of said plate fitting against a small shoulder 42". An arm. 98 extends from plate 98 and shaft 97 at one end of roller 42 carrying in. its outer end a cam roller 99 journaled on a pin 100 in the end of said arm. Cam roller 99 is adapted to move overa stationary cam 101 and'arm 98a is urged in a direction to hold roller 99 against cam 101 by spring 102,` contacting said arm at one end and a plate 103 at :its other end, which plate is" secured to roller 42. A trough or magazine 104 is providedfor the folded napkins, `said magazine having an end guide plate 1048 at its receiving end disposed substantially below the outer side of the roller 42 and having its upper free end curved toward said roller. The guide plate 104a has a triangular opening 104 `theretlnough shaped to accommodate the passage `therethrough of a stacker plate 105 carried on a reciprocating bar 106 guided in a )ertui'es in iipstandingmembers 107*L ot the `ltraine member 107, which yframe member 107 will be secured `to thefranie 20. The slacker bar 106 has an upstanding pin 106e disposed in a slot in one arm of a bell crank lever 106h fulcrinned on, frame 20, the other arinofwhich is engaged and moved by a pin or roller 108 carried on gear 77 (sce Fig. 13). Said stacker will be retracted or inovcd in the op oslte direction by tensile spr1ng"109 secure( at one end to `one of the members 107a and at .its other endby a. pin projecting from stacker bar 100. The stacker plate 105 comprises a triangular portion 105a fixed relatively to stacker bar 106 and ahinged portion 105), the portion 1105b being of trapezoidal shape,

as shown in Fig. 19. The magizine 1.04

has a plate 104b` disposed a short distance from end plate 104 and as shown in Fig. 19 the plate 104" has a downwardly extending portion 104C, the vlower edge of which is inclined to the horizontal. It will be noted lthat the bottoni 104" of magazine 104 is inzine or lgiottoni 10417thereof, the angle between said edges being substantially the same as the angle between lines Sla` and S1 as shown in F ig.20. The stacker plate 105 isadapted to inove' between the adjacent edges of projection 104C andplate 104e and to have a small amount of clearance between said edges, A plate 110 extends into one side of the `magazine and has its innervertical edge disposed substantlally 1n llne with the vertical end of stacker plate 105.` The plate 110L curves outwardly from the inner end of plate 110'as shown in Fig. 17. Plate 110 is carried on `the `resilient bar 110 secured to a block 112 at one sideof magaj zine 104.

In operation las roller 42 revolves in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 13, the cam roller 99 will ride up on the high part of cam 101 as shown in Fig. 13 just as the ,j advancing end of the folded'napkin S1` comes over the outside surface of roller 42.` Cam 104 thus swings arm .158l and plate 98 is swung outwardly away from the surface of roller 42. Just previous to this cam roller 90 rides up on the high part 91Z1 of cam 91 and arm 85 is swung away from plate 84 releasing the forward edge of the folded napkin S1. The napkin is thus released and pushed away from the roller by plate 98. r1`hel roller 42 is running at high speed and the napkin has considerable moment-um. The napkin is thus projected downward substantially tangent to thel roller 42 and is delivered substantially against the forward plate 104. of magazine 104 as indicated by the dotted line position of the folded napkin S1 in Fig. 13. As the napkin is thus delivered into the magazine 104 it occupies substantially the position shown in Fig. 19. The stacker 105 is now moved forwardly and engages the part of the folded napkin in the central zone ,thereof as shown in Fig.

19, which zone is comprised between the lines S1, S11 and S11 `as shown in Fig. 20, the sides of the stacker being parallel and some distance from the lines S11* and S111 but the vertical edge of the stacker being substantially in line with the line S11. As the stacker pushes the napkin into the magazine, it is pushed past the plate 104e and the Y rojection 104C. The edges of the napkin nd and flip past these edges. As the napkin is pushed past theplate 110, however, the pointed portion S111 outside of the line S1j as shown in Fig. 20, is folded back shown in Figs. 15 to 18 and is disposed in the rea-r of the hinged portion 10511 of the stacker plate 105. The vertical edge of the napkin, however, which is now substantially along .the line S11 as shown in Fig. 20, is ppshed past the inner edge of plate 110, it

ing noted that plate 110 is pushed out laterally as shown in Fig. 15 by engagement of the end of portion 1051J of the said stacker plate with the curved plate 1101*. Portion 1051 engages and pushes out the portion 110l with a cam like action. It may be stated that portion 10511 cannot move rearwardly past the position shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 18, but can swing forwardly from said position as shown in Fig. 17. After the stacker has thus pushed the napkin back of plates 104e, 104e and back of the inner edge of plate 110, it is retracted. The napkin is kept from moving outwardly by the edges of pro'ection 104C and plate 104e as well as by t e edge of plate 110. As the stacker plate 105a is retracted, .the portion 1051 which has moved behind the inner edge of the plate 110 swings about its pivot and withdraws as shown in Fig. 17. Plate 110 moves inwardly due tothe resiliency of its plate 1101 and the triangular end S111 of the napkin is folded inwardly into the position shown in Fig. 18. The next napkin pushed into the magazine. will engage the flap S11' and said flaps will thus be folded over toward the inside of the napkin, the napkin being stacked in magazine 104 and pushed againstl the follower plate or weight 113 which is pushed back as the napkins accumulate. It will be seen that there will be a force tending to push the outermost napkins longitudinally of magazine 104 against plates 10411 and 104e due to the resiliency in the stack of napkins. The napkins have now been folded into the form Aindicated in Fig. 23 and are stacked in the magazine 104 from which they can be removed andv packed into the desired containers for shipment.

From the above descri tion it is seen that applicant has provide a comparatively simple, highly eicient and rapidly operatingl apparatus for folding the napkins. The device operates with great rapidity and delivers the completely folded napkins at the rate of substantially four hundred (400) per minute. The machine operates continuously, using a continuous web of paper. This paper is usually thin white crepe paper now commonly used for paper napkins. The device has been demonstrated in vactual practice and found to be very successful and eiicient. i

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts of the apparatus as well as in the steps and sequence of steps inthe method, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a method and apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth in the novel parts and combinations of parts of the apparatus and novel steps and sequence of steps in the method, defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for folding a paper napkin or similar article having'l in combination, means for folding a strip of material lengthwise, means for severing the strip when folded `into pieces of desired length, revoluble means for engaging each of said pieces along a line substantially midway of its length, progressing and folding the same, and revoluble means for subsequently engaging said napkin along a diagonal line and folding the same along said line.

2. A machine for folding a paper napkin or similar article having in combination, means for folding a strip of material lengthwise, means for severlng the strip when cessively engaging said pieces along lines inclined to its edges and folding the same along said lines. j

3. A folding apparatus for sheet mate rial having in combination, a roller, means on said roller for' engaging a piece of mateterial and carrying it about said roller and means for forming a bight in said material along an intermediate diagonal line, gripping said bight and progressing said material tofold the same along said line.

4. A folding apparatus for sheet material having in combination, a` roller over which a sheet of` material is carried and means for engaging the material on said roller, forming a bight on an intermediate diagonal line therein, gripping said bight and progressing said material `away from said roller to fold the same along said line.

5. A folding apparatus for sheet material having in combination, a member about which a. sheet of material carried, means on said member for gripping said material and advancing the same, a member adjacent said member having means for gripping said material along an intermediate diagonal line thereon and carrying the same away from said first mentionedmember and means for .releasing said first mentioned means to permit said material to be so carried. i

6. A folding apparatus having .in combination a cylindrical roller, a conical roller having its surface substantially tangent to said roller, means on said rollers for forming a biglit in a sheet of material carried on said cylindrical. roller, including a means for gripping said bight and carrying said material thereby about said conical roller to fold the same.

7. A folding ajiparatus having in combination a cylindrical roller, a plurality of conical rollers adjacent said cylindrical roller, said rollers being arranged with their axis substantially in one plane and the adjacent rollers being tangent to each other, means for carrying a sheet of material about said cylindrical roller and means on said conical rollers for successively gripping said sheet of material and carrying ,it about each of said rollers to fold the same.

8. A method of folding a sheet of material. which comprises progressing said sheet on a smooth surface, forming a bight in said sheet along an intermediate diagonal line thereof, and advancing said sheet away from said surface by means of said bight to fold the same on said line.

9. A method of folding a piece of sheet material. which consists in progressing said sheet on a smooth surface, forming a bight in said material along an intermediate diagonal line, gripping said bight and progressing said material away from said surface to fold the same on said line and advancing the folded sheet along another surface forming a bight in said folded sheet along a second intermediate line, gripping said bight and again advancing said folded sheet by said biglit to again fold said sheet on said second line.

10. A folding apparatus having in combination, a roller on which a folded sheet is carried, means on said roller for pushing the advancing edge of said sheet away from said roller, a receiving means adjacent said roller into which said sheet is projected and means for bending one edge of said sheet as the same is projected into said receiving means.

l1. A folding apparatus having in combin nation, a roller, means on said rollerV for holding and advancing a sheet thereon, means for engaging'said means to release said sheet and means for substantially simultaneously pushing said sheet from said roller and a receiving means adjacent said roller into which said sheet moves adapted to bend the sheet as pushed therein and to fold the sheet on said bend line on a successive stroke of said pushing means.

12. vA folding apparatus having in combination a member having a surface with an edge past which a sheet is moved.l said member being movable in the plane of said surface, a plunger adapted to move a sheet past said edge, means for moving said member and edge into the rear of said plunger to fold said sheet about the edge of said plunger, said plunger having a hinged portion i adjacent said Aedge whereby it will fold inwardly when retracted and will not pull said sheet past said edge.

13. A folding apparatus having in combii nation, a resiliently mounted member having a. surface with an edge past which a sheet is moved, a plunger having a forward flat surface and having a portion adapt-ed to swing forwardly of said surface but not rearwardly thereof, said portion having an edge disposed at a distancefrom the edge of the folded sheet` means for moving said plunger past the edge of said member, said member being moved laterally away from said plunger as said plunger moves past the edge thereof and being resiliently moved into the rear of said plunger to fold said sheet about the edge of said plunger, said portion of said plunger swinging inwardly when said plunger is retracted, whereby said sheet is not retracted past the edge of said member.

14. A folding apparatus having in combination, means for folding a rectangular sheet into a four-ply quarter fold, means for folding over both edges of said quarter fold along lines extending toward a corner of said quarter fold and means for folding over the remaining triangular portion beyond said edges.

15. A folding apparatus having in combination, means for folding a rectangular sheet of material into a four-p1 quarter fold, means for folding substantially triangular side portions of said quarter fold onto the central portion thereof, and means for folding inwardly the portion of the quarter fold beyond said side portions.

16. A folding apparatus having in combination, means forfolding a rectangular sheet into a four-ply quarter fold, means for folding said quarter fold along diagonal lines from one corner thereof to form a folded figure of trapeziu'm shape, and means for folding over one corner of said trapezium shaped figure on a diagonal line extending between two adjacent corners to form a folded figure of triangular shape.

17. A folding ap )aratus having in combination, means for olding a rectangular figure into a four-ply quarter fold, means for folding over two edges of said quarter fold along lines extendingr toward a corner of said quarter fold to form flaps, a receptacle angular shaped opening leading thereto, and

means for catching Said sheet as discharged from said first mentioned means andl pushing the same through the opening in said chamber to bend inwardly portions of said sheetnot conforming to the shape of said opening, whereupon as a successive sheet is pushed through said opening, the first sheet will be folded on the line of bend thereof.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

AARON GROFF'. 

